Tag Archives: Marcus Rashford

England captain Harry Kane scored an injury-time winner to secure qualification for next summer’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory against Slovenia at Wembley.

Kane stretched out to nudge in Kyle Walker’s cross for his 14th goal in his past nine games to finally break down Slovenia’s tough resistance as they looked likely to hold out for a point.

Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling almost broke the deadlock before Kane made his breakthrough, but the hosts must also be grateful to goalkeeper Joe Hart — whose selection into the team came under much criticism — for some crucial interventions that also earned him the official man-of-the-match award. – Cara Daftar Sbobet

While England carry a forward threat in the shape of Kane and Rashford — who will both be supported by the likes Dele Alli when he is free from suspension — the team still looks lacking in inspiration and creativity in front of goal that all but permits nothing but low expectations for Gareth Southgate’s squad in the coming summer.

It was only Kane who provided the single moment of quality that saved England the blushes this time around. In what was his first time skippering for England, his goal saved the team from potentially vicious feedback against a largely forgettable performance.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alli’s replacement for the night, was unable to repay Southgate’s faith in him and thus it came hardly a surprise when he was replaced by Jesse Lingard after 64 minutes.

Although his coach has shown great belief in him by starting him against Malta and Slovakia in past qualifiers, his struggles were clear with a scarcity of confidence despite making distinct efforts to help his team in front of one and all.

Still, Gareth Southgate is clear in the belief of his selection of a group of young players. “As a young team and having to deal with the expectation and criticism of their performances, it is tough for them,” he said.

“They are giving everything they’ve got. They don’t have Champions League winning medals between them. We have to give them the belief and the backing to help them achieve. It’s not a relief, I always thought we’d achieve the objective [of qualifying]. Tonight highlighted where we are. We are not going to become Spain in the next eight months.”

England manager Gareth Southgate will attempt to improve the relationship between the FA and the authorities at Manchester United after admitting there had been a trust issue.

At present, the Football Association (FA) of England suspects Manchester United have withheld valuable key sports science data regarding England international players because United coach Jose Mourinho and his staff believed that such information will be leaked to rival clubs.

While there are other clubs that share United’s sentiments, the Red Devils were the only club to made their misgivings distinct as Southgate makes it “a case of building up trust” with the Manchester club.

“To clarify, we share our data,” Southgate said. “We don’t always receive data, though. That’s what we would like because it would help us work out a training schedule when they [the players] first come into camp.”

“That can be a big help but we can’t enforce it. That has to be an agreement – sharing – and at the moment some clubs are more comfortable with it than others. One of the dangers, I guess, is the perception of it being leaked.”

However, Southgate insisted that Mourinho’s feelings would not hamper him from making decisions “that are right for England” which includes the selection of Marcus Rashford for two games next month: a World Cup qualifier against Scotland and a friendly against France just three days later.

“I’m not in a position where I can make decisions to keep people happy. I’m not going to achieve that,” Southgate added. “The key for us is not the relationship with Jose, it’s the relationship with Marcus. I didn’t speak to him (Mourinho) about it. I let him know where I was heading with it at the end.”

“Respectfully, none of the managers are going to be around in 10 years, or it’s very, very unlikely, and I think people like Marcus Rashford will be. So there’s always going to be some collision at some point on that and some disagreement on that.”

Manchester United took a slim away goal advantage in their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo thanks to a superb free-kick from Marcus Rashford.

For much of the game, Manchester United had suppressed the home side but failed to capitalise on their best chances in northern Spain — three times they came close in the first half, only to be denied by home goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez.

Celta then slowly grew into the game and started making chances – both Daniel Wass and Iago Aspas headed wide while Pione Sisto’s deflected shot forced Sergio Romero to save in the second half.

As United slowly rue their missed chances, Rashford turned the game around by bending a free-kick to Alvarez’s far corner.

While there is a second leg to play, United are still on course for what could define their campaign next season.

As the Red Devils now linger outside the Premier League’s top four — a point behind Manchester City and four off third-placed Liverpool — the Europa League perhaps represents their best opportunity of earning a place in next season’s Champions League.

Indeed, United coach Jose Mourinho said before the game that he wants the trophy to complete United’s trophy cupboard, and that he would do so even if it meant resting key players in remaining Premier League fixtures.

“The Europa League is the only competition Manchester United as a club have never won,” Mourinho said. “It would be great to close the circle and say we are a club that has won every single competition in the football world.”

“So the Europa League has become, for us, more important. Of course it depends on the result and the way we analyse the situation after the match, but if we have to rest players next weekend, we are going to that.”

Marcus Rashford scored a vital extra-time goal that sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-final with a 2-1 victory over Anderlecht (3-2 on aggregate).

United took the lead first through Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian drilled in a low finish in the 10th minute but Anderlecht got an equalizer when Sofiane Hanni scrambled home an equaliser after 32 minutes.

Amidst injuries to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rojo, United were themselves a reason they could not finish Anderlecht off in normal time as the players wasted plenty of precious chances.

It was only at the 107th minute that Rashford scored the decisive goal with a brilliant turn and finish.

Manager Jose Mourinho has been gradually shifting his attention upon the second-tier European tournament as it offers a potential route into the Champions League, away from the difficult battle for top-four places in the Premier League — making this victory a much needed one.

But even as they rescued themselves through an extra-time goal, Mourinho must know that his team deeply needs a cohesive attacking plan and to hone their finishing if they are to secure Champions League qualification.

And while Rashford was the deliverer of goals against Chelsea and here against Anderlecht, the loss of Ibrahimovic, who scored 28 goals for United this season, would still prove to be a heavy setback.

As for Rojo, who received lengthy treatment following a heavy collision with an Anderlecht player, meant that United’s defense is dealt a further blow. It was indeed the worst timing as United are already without injured two other defensive players, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.